I've been out for a while (XRay included)

[matthewb0051]

This has been in the works for months. Finally got my hip replaced on Nov 20th. Post Op the Dr said my original hip was bone on bone. No wonder I was in so much pain. I have literally been going to court and coming home around noon just to lay on my couch for at least 6 weeks.

Right out of surgery I was in a lot of pain. They got that under control and I was home for dinner same day. This Dr group has a big building that houses everything; MRI, Xray, PT, exam rooms, and even Operating Rooms. It is crazy but sure beats going into a hospital and staying the night.

The old pain is now gone and now it is just discomfort and getting used to the new hardware.

[vash]

wow.

whats the long term thing? will you be 100%?

i'm glad you got sorted out. i kinda feel that is in my future.

[oldE]

Well, now obviously you're screwed.......together.
Hope the healing goes well.
All the best.

[Cajundaddy]

Best wishes for healing and freedom from pain. My wife took a fall on black ice and snapped the femur right at the hip joint. Doc said images of her joint were good so he repaired the fractured femur and she is doing great. Sill a little stiff after sitting for a long time but otherwise full movement and no pain.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by vash

wow.

whats the long term thing? will you be 100%?

i'm glad you got sorted out. i kinda feel that is in my future.

The only thing we discussed that I could not do is run distances. I'm good with that, my Army days are long gone. Doc just doesn't want any hard pounding on the device, ever. Otherwise, everything else is on the table.

Biggest concern was possible snow skiing. But it was a ski wreck in Austria, 2002, that got me into this mess. I had a ski not come off, resulting in a knee surgery and now this. The labrum was torn from the wreck, it just took 23 years to cause problems.

More history on the ski wreck. Me and 3 other people had our bindings adjusted by the same guy in a small shop. All of us had surgery resulting wrecks as a result of a ski not detaching. For all of us, it was the non-dominate side. I'll just chalk it up to German to English language and conversion from Kg to Lbs.

Right now, my left leg feels longer than the right (left was replaced). Apparently, that is normal and it will adjust. I don't want to be like the kid on October Sky that drug a lame leg around when he ran.

[GH85Carrera]

Welcome to the club!

I had mine done back in 2012. Without a doubt, the dumbest thing I ever did was put that surgery off. My doc said he would fix me and he did indeed.

I never think of the hip replacement except when I see the big ol scan on my hip as I step out of the shower. The old adage that chicks did scars can't be true. Every time I drop my pants to show my scar ladies run and scream!

My doc told me not to ski, either water or snow, and no jogging. After 13 years, it is just wonderful to have zero pain. Before the replacement, ever step was OUCH. I too had just raw bone on bone, and just blood as a lubricant.

I figure the real bonus is if I am ever abducted by extraterrestrials, they will know I am from an advance civilization with titanium parts in me. Of course with my luck, it will the the extraterrestrials that are mining for titanium, and they will just cut me up for parts. I don't worry about that much.

[herr_oberst]

Welcome to the brotherhood. Like many have said, you'll wonder why you waited, once you can walk pain free again.

[Jeff Higgins]

I feel for you, believe me I do. Check out my "just spent the night in the ER" thread. I had a total hip replacement surgery six years ago. Everything was fine until this summer, when it dislocated four times in five weeks. I am now in my fifth week of post surgery recovery after the surgeon went in to modify and change what he had in there. So, I've now been through this twice on the same hip.

Let me reassure you, though, you will look back on this as one of the best things you have ever done. Once you are fully healed, the results will be life changing. You just need to be patient.

[matthewb0051]

Another bonus that I thought of:

If I'm murdered and they find parts, I know have a part with a serial number (or so I assume). So they can run a trace and determine it was me that is all cut up in the woods or wherever.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I feel for you, believe me I do. Check out my "just spent the night in the ER" thread. I had a total hip replacement surgery six years ago. Everything was fine until this summer, when it dislocated four times in five weeks. I am now in my fifth week of post surgery recovery after the surgeon went in to modify and change what he had in there. So, I've now been through this twice on the same hip.

Let me reassure you, though, you will look back on this as one of the best things you have ever done. Once you are fully healed, the results will be life changing. You just need to be patient.

At age 88, my father in law had a knee replacement malfunction. IIRC, there was a 'bad batch' or something that was known to fail like his did. It had been in there for at least 10 years or more. The replacement knee actually broke into two pieces. Same doctor that did my hip replaced his newest knee.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

Another bonus that I thought of:

If I'm murdered and they find parts, I know have a part with a serial number (or so I assume). So they can run a trace and determine it was me that is all cut up in the woods or wherever.

Yup, all of my parts are serial numbered. It helps the surgeon determine later what all is in there, even if you wind up with a different surgeon should it need modifications like mine. He even gave me a copy of the "parts list" for my own records.

[masraum]

Congrats on what should be a huge improvement. Push as hard on the PT as they'll allow.

[KNS]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Yup, all of my parts are serial numbered. It helps the surgeon determine later what all is in there, even if you wind up with a different surgeon should it need modifications like mine. He even gave me a copy of the "parts list" for my own records.

Just make certain they're putting in OE parts and not eBay knockoffs...

[vash]

modern medicine is so cool.

[A930Rocket]

Originally Posted by matthewb0051

At age 88, my father in law had a knee replacement malfunction. IIRC, there was a 'bad batch' or something that was known to fail like his did. It had been in there for at least 10 years or more. The replacement knee actually broke into two pieces. Same doctor that did my hip replaced his newest knee.

Glad to hear you’re on the mend.

Was your father-in-law‘s knee replacement covered under warranty?

[jhynesrockmtn]

Congrats. Take it easy, let yourself heal and enjoy not being in constant pain. My wife had both hips done in 2020 between periods where the hospital wasn't doing any elective stuff. About 9 months apart. She is so much more comfortable today and wishes she had done it sooner. She can't run anymore but has picked up cycling a bit and loves to walk.

[matthewb0051]

Originally Posted by KNS

Just make certain they're putting in OE parts and not eBay knockoffs...

Got mine off of **** Edit: well apparently you can't say the website starting with T that sells cheap knock off stuff. Who knew. Sorry Mods.

Originally Posted by A930Rocket

Glad to hear you’re on the mend.

Was your father-in-law‘s knee replacement covered under warranty?

Yep, the warranty that Danica Patrick sells on TV.


I need to ask my Dr about the service intervals and where the grease nipple is located.

[GH85Carrera]

Replacement body parts like hips have serial numbers, and my Doc gave me a card to carry in my wallet. It list the manufacturer and serial number of the implant. The only real purpose for the card is if I am in a bad car wreak and end up in some hospital, they will have some information as to just what is in me.

Jeff, my mother had 4 hip replacements. Yes, she was a normal human with just two hips, but she had her first one done back in the very early 1980s, and the other side done a couple of years later. She was very active as a volunteer at the local zoo, and too much walking just wore the first ones out. The second set were never right, and she was using a walker for the last 10 years of her life. Hip replacements are much more durable now than back then.

I am really happy the hip I got has held up great. I hope to get another 25 or 30 years of usage out of it! That will put me in the triple digits of age, so it is an optimistic hope.

[Crowbob]

I’m thinking that hip hardware will outlast you, Glen.

Does the process of cremation melt that stuff, I wonder.

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by Crowbob

I’m thinking that hip hardware will outlast you, Glen.

Does the process of cremation melt that stuff, I wonder.

No, those parts are just scraped off from the ash and tossed in the recycle bin for titanium I suspect.